Utility Commission - Minutes - 03/08/2022

WATERFORD UTILITY COMMISSION

                           REGULAR MEETING MINUTES

DATE:            March 8, 2022

PLACE:                 1000 Hartford Turnpike

PRESIDING:       Chairman Ken Kirkman

MEMBERS PRESENT: Rodney Pinkham, Steve Negri, Ray Valentini and Thomas
Dembek

ALSO PRESENT:    J. Robert Tuneski, Liaison for Board of Finance and
                 Attorney Nicholas Kepple, Town Legal Counsel
       Staff: Neftali Soto-Chief Engineer and Jim Bartelli, Assistant
                 Director

Chairman Kirkman called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM

Chairman Kirkman greeted and welcomed commission new member, Thomas Dembek.

CITIZEN SESSION
None

SECRETARY’S REPORT

      MOTION      Made by Mr. Negri to approve the Minutes of the Feb 15,
                 2022 meeting, Mr. Pinkham seconded.


      VOTE  The motion passed.  3-Yes 1-Abstained (Mr. Dembek)


BILLING ADJUSTMENTS

      The Commission reviewed the February adjustments. The adjustment
      report will be kept in the office for review.

EXPENDITURES


      MOTION      made by Mr. Pinkham to approve March 2022 bill list, Mr.
                 Negri seconded.


      VOTE  The motion passed unanimously.



OLD BUSINESS – REPORTS & UPDATES

    • FINANCIALS – WW FUND REVENUES/EXPENDITURES REPORT
      The financials were reviewed.




    • COLLECTIONS-UPDATE
      Report was provided by Attorney Kepple and reviewed.  Office
Coordinator reported that out     of the 609 intent to lien warnings that
were sent out, only 351 liens were filed with the Town   Clerk’s Office.
The response was good this year.


    • TWO TOWN AGREEMENT
      Mr. Soto and Mr. Bartelli had a Zoom meeting with Joe Bragaw from
East Lyme this past    Monday.  It was productive, no major issues and just
need to clean up some language.

    • American Rescue Plan
      Mr. Soto gave an update on where the department was in the different
projects using the     American Rescue Funds.
      Fargo Water Tank-Mr. Soto reported that there is a meeting on March
22nd for the stake     holders.
      Old Norwich Pump Station and Cross Road-Wright Pierce are expecting
to have 90% of the     designs done by the end of March.
      Upgrade Control Panels-U.S. Automation are continuing to work on the
upgrades.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS –
Municipal Complex- At the last meeting, the sign was picked out for the
roadside and some others signs for directional purpose.  Also, some bills
were approved for payment.

NEW BUSINESS

Revised WUC Meetings

MOTION      made by Mr. Negri to accept the new schedule to change the
meetings to every 2nd             Tuesday of the month, Mr. Valentini
seconded.

VOTE        Passed


CCTV Equipment Upgrades bid- There was only one bid that was submitted
which was Bahr Sales, Inc.  Mr. Soto reviewed the details with the
Commission.

MOTION      made by Mr. Negri to accept bid and recommend to the Board of
Selectman to award                to Bahr Sales in the amount of
$119,370.00, Mr. Valentini seconded.

VOTE        Passed





Channel Grinders bid- There was only one bid that was submitted which was
JWC Environmental Inc.  Mr. Soto reviewed the details with the Commission.

MOTION      made by Mr. Pinkham to accept bid and recommend to the Board of
Selectman to                 award to JWC Environmental Inc in the  amount
of 121,487.00,   Mr. Valentini                     seconded.

VOTE        Passed

Vauxhall St. Water Tank-T-Mobile made a request to install a 4’ X 10’
cement pad to put an emergency generator on for their cellular equipment.
They have offered $200 a month for the use of the land.  The Commission
asked to get more information from T-Mobile on how they come up with the
monetary amount for the lease.

WATER-VEOLIA REPORT
Report was provided and reviewed.

Mr. Soto reported that there is going to be a meeting with Dept. of Health
and New London to discuss an annual report of Unaccounted Water.  New
London historically prepared this report but is not under obligation to
continue although we have no access to the date needed.

PLANS REVIEW
No plans to review

PERSONNEL
Mr. Soto announced that Diane Driscoll was promoted to the Office
Coordinator position at the Police Department.  Mr. Soto has already let
Human Resources know that we will need to fill the Accounts Receivable
position.

OTHER

ADJOURNMENT
With no further business before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at
7:10 p.m.

      MOTION     made by Mr. Dembek to adjourn.  Mr. Negri seconded.

      VOTE       The motion passed unanimously.


Respectfully submitted,
Amy L. Windle
Recording Secretary